Tag Archives: heartsongquilts

This month’s block is another applique block and we are only making one. You are receiving one yard of fabric per month, which is obviously too much for just one block, but remember there are lots of blocks to come along with filler blocks at the end.

I really don’t have much to add to the instructions, so here are the fabrics you’ll be working with this month:

Here’s my finished block:

Month 3 – Wagon Wheel – 12 ½” x 12 ½” finished size–Make 3

This is a pieced block with curves 🙁

The instructions are great, but experiment with the outer T6 piecing. I made the first one by stitching the 4 units together, then adding the center circle. I found this difficult because the diameter of the center pieced circle was not exactly the same size as the diameter of the circle I was adding it to.

I found it easier to leave a seam allowance on each ‘end’ of the T6 template and sew them one at a time, then joining the pieces as you would a set-in seam.

This month’s fabrics:

Finished Blocks:

Month 4 – Hopscotch – 12 ½” x 12 ½” finished size–Make 3

I LOVE the look of this block, but I sure wouldn’t want to make a King size quilt with it! 16 small curved pieces per block, plus lots of small triangles to complete it.

Just a few notes to begin, T11 is not a 60 degree triangle although it looks close.

In cutting the T7 and T8 pieces, take the time to cut the ‘dog ears’. It will make piecing so much easier!

We’re getting ready to kick off the Golden Days Template of the Month program. We just received the pattern and templates for the first month, so Ann is busy making it (and having fun while doing so, I might add). Here’s a photo of Ann’s work thus far.

Even though we don’t have the entire quilt pattern, Ann has been auditioning fabrics based upon what we know about the quilt.

Here’s a photo of the entire quilt made by Jen Kingwell, as well as a photo of the block for Month 1. You can see that Ann’s quilt will be quite a bit brighter and will pop a bit more. She will be using whites and brights as background fabric rather than grays and creams.

We anticipate receiving the template kits in the next week or so, and we will mail them out shortly thereafter. The scheduled start date is March 1, and if we get them on time, we’ll get them to you shortly thereafter.

12” Star Block with Cross is found on page 16. This block is pretty straightforward so I don’t have any special knowledge or instructions.

For each block, you need four foundation pieced corner squares for a total of 32! As I mentioned before, I did not make sure each corner piece was identical, I felt it would be too much to ask of myself to keep track of which strip went where. If you want to make sure each corner is the same, you will need to make them four at a time.

For me, I decided to make all 32 at the same time. Actually, we will need another 16 for the 12” Eight Pointed Star blocks, so we’ll need 48 in total.

I don’t know if it is easier, but I decided to draw my diagonal lines across the whole sheet, and then cut the squares 4” x 4”

Any extra pieces I used to add to blocks that needed a corner filled in

Here’s my pile of 4” x 4” striped pieces

Eight Pointed Star Block 12” is found on page 27. This is the same block we made in Month 1. The only difference is this block is 12”. If you need a refresher on ‘Y’ seams, and set in seams, please refer to this information found in Month 1. Also, remember that we posted videos with some helpful tips on this on the HeartSong Facebook page and on the Bakers Dozen Quiltalong with HeartSong Facebook page.

As I mentioned before, you will need four foundation pieced 4” x 4” corner blocks for each block, for a total of 16.

Unfortunately, I neglected to take a picture of any of these blocks before I put them all together. No reason, I just forgot.

You could go ahead and use the T42 template, but it is a 45 degree angle, so if you cut a 2–5/8” x 2-5/8” square, then cut diagonally 2 times, you will get four 45 degree triangles. Cut a second 2-5/8” square and you have eight triangles for the center of the block.

With all the points in this block, pressing is super important. Just remember to press the seams of T45/T44/T43/T42 to the left. Press T45 Rev/T44/T 43 Rev/T42 to the right and all should be well.

This month we are making the rest of the 6” blocks that will be used in the two borders that surround the center medallion blocks.

Aircastle Block, pages 9 & 10: Confession time…I got really confused in reading the pattern, and trying to decide which fabrics to use and my color placement. I drew a little cheat sheet with the pieces numbered to correspond with my fabrics and the sizes to cut each. This really helped me.

I also cut each piece for each block and arranged them in the appropriate place, before I began to sew.

Here are my finished Aircastle Blocks:

The next set of blocks will be the Combination Star Blocks, pages 11 & 12. As in all the other blocks, lay out your cut pieces before you begin sewing.

This blocks has triangle points that meet in the center of the block.

If you have trouble with triangle points, I’ll show you how I keep my points “pointy”. Insert a straight pin at the point of the first triangle, and then through the point of the second triangle. Do this on each point to be joined.

Pull the pin so it is straight and the two pieces are lined up together. Put a pin on either side of the seam to hold that exact place tight. When you sew this piece, do not remove the pins, but GO SLOWLY over the pins so the seam doesn’t shift.

Finished Combination Star Blocks:

The last eight blocks we will make for this month will be Willow Block, page 13, which is a rectangle. Finished blocks size will be 7 ¼” x 6”, but again, your finished block size may vary. All of my blocks are measuring ¼” smaller. The point is they are ALL measuring ¼” smaller, so they will fit together beautifully in the finished quilt.

You will need to cut templates for this block. Sadly, none of the triangles are 60 degrees or 45 degrees. I did discover that by cutting a 3 ¾” x 4 ¾” rectangle and cutting it diagonally we can make two T8 triangles. Make another 3 ¾”x 4 ¾” rectangle and cut it diagonally the opposite way to get two T8 reversed triangles. Of course, if you want four fabrics for each corner, you’ll have to cut them one at a time.

The Willow Block has two options so I’m going to make four of each.

The first version of this block has the two diamond points meeting at the center. For this reason, I have pressed one set of seams toward the center, and the opposite set of seams toward the outside. This will allow you to “snuggle” your seams together for a perfect fit.

Use the same technique with a straight pin at the points on both diamonds. You’ll be able to feel the seams and just make sure they line up properly.

First four Willow Blocks:

Luckily the alternate version of this block is much simpler, no points to align. Yippee!

Here they are:

Thanks to all of you who are sharing your blocks on our Facebook page. Have fun and see you all next month!

Hello everyone, this month we are starting to make the 6” blocks. We need nine Sprinkled Delight blocks, and they are small curves.

I am going to begin by saying, ARGH!

Okay, now that I got that out of my system, I can move on.

The first block, I pieced as Jen shows in the pattern. Sadly, it came out lopsided.

After several attempts, I finally decided to piece the whole center, half the circle, and half the outside of the block.

It was easier for me to piece the larger curve in a longer section.

Finally, I appliqued the center circle over the center of the block.

I hope the purists will forgive me, but for me it is more important how it looks, not the process of getting there. Especially when I would have had to un-sew as many times as I would have had to with this block.